Dispensing valve

ABSTRACT

A dispensing valve includes a housing comprising upper, center and lower members, and gaskets positioned between the members. A plurality of water valves and a plurality of corresponding syrup valves are formed in the housing. Each valve includes a portion of one of the gaskets for normally preventing flow between the lower member and the center member of the housing, and a rod for disengaging the gasket portion and thereby permitting flow. The rods of the water valves are activated by pushbuttons mounted in the upper member of the housing while the rods of the syrup valves are actuated by the pressure of water flowing through the corresponding water valves.

United States Patent Booth 1 Nov. 21, 1972 [54] DISPENSING VALVE3,407,834 10/1968 Brandenberg ..251/367 X [72] Inventor: Jack J. Booth,PO. Box 10872, Dallas 75207 Primary Examiner-William F. ODea AssistantExaminer-P. D. Ferguson [22] Flled: 1970 Attrney-Richards, Harris &Hubbard 211 Appl. No.: 97,220

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. ..137/114, 137/604, 137/607, A dispensingvalve includes a housing comprising 222/ 129.2, 222/1445, 251/24 upper,center and lower members, and gaskets posi- [51] Int. Cl. ..B67d /56tioned between the members. A plurality of water [58] Field of Search..137/ 114, 604, 111, 607; valves and a plurality of corresponding syrupvalves /129 1 5; 251/24 are formed in the housing. Each valve includes aportion of one of the gaskets for normally preventing flow [56]References Cited between the lower member and the center member ofUNITED STATES PATENTS the housing, and a rod for disengaging the gasketportion and thereby permitting flow. The rods of the 3,042,077 7/ 1962waddington et water valves are activated by pushbuttons mounted inMcDougall ..l X the upper member of the housing the rods of the3,009,653 11/1961 Hedeman ..222/ 144.5 X syrup valves are actuated bythe pressure f water 3,144,967 8/1964 McClain ..222/ 144.5 flowingthrough the corresponding water valves- 3,168,967 2/1965 Giampa..222/l44.5 X 3,241,720 3/ 1966 Barney ..222/ 144.5 X 15 Claims, 5Drawing Figures 5a 10 94 75 56 44 I4 30 72 73 5a 16 a4 96 9a 54 2s 20 I886 9088 go PATENTEDnnv 2 1 1972 SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTOR:

JACK J. BOOTH ATTORNEYS DISPENSING VALVE BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to a dispensing valve, and moreparticularly, to a valve for selectively dispensing any one of fiveflavored syrup-carbonated water mixtures, carbonated water along and/ornon-carbonated water alone.

In the beverage industry, soft drinks are supplied in the form offlavored syrups which must be mixed with carbonated water. Typically,mixing is accomplished in a dispensing valve that selectively dischargesthe proper proportions or Brix of carbonated water and syrup in such away as to cause mixing of the two ingredients. Heretofore, dispensingvalves suitable for use in the beverage industry have been characterizedby large numbers of complicated parts, and therefore have been expensiveto purchase. For example, certain types of dispensing valves includesolenoids, microswitches, transformers, and the structure necessary toinsulate the related electrical circuits an to keep them operable.

The present invention comprises a dispensing valve that overcomes thedisadvantages of the prior art in that it is inexpensive to purchase andyet is capable of dispensing a number of flavored syrup-carbonated watermixtures. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention,a dispensing valve includes a plurality of syrup valves each forcontrolling the flow of flavored syrup through a syrup passageway, and aplurality of water valves each for controlling the flow of water througha water passageway. Each syrup valve has a companion water valve and isactuated in response to the flow of water through its companion watervalve. The dispensing valve preferably comprises an upper member, acenter member and a lower member, and gaskets positioned between themembers. The gaskets seal the various passageways of the valve one fromanother, and include valving members which normally prevent flow throughthe dispensing valve, and which are selectively activated to permit flowtherethrough.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A more complete understanding of theinvention may be had by referring to the following Detailed Descriptionwhen taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a dispensing valve employingthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the dispensing valve shown in FIG. 1,and

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the valve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawing, and particularly toFIG. 1 thereof, a dispensing valve employing the present invention isshown. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, thedispensing valve 10 selectively dispenses any one of the five flavoredsyrup-carbonated water mixtures, carbonated water alone, ornon-carbonated water alone. However, in order to facilitate anunderstanding of the invention, the features of the dispensing valve 10relating to the dispensing of a particular flavored syrup-carbonatedwater mixture are illustrated in FIG. 1, and the features of thedispensing valve 10 relating to the dispensing of the remaining flavoredsyrup-carbonated water mixtures, and to the dispensing of carbonatedwater along and non-carbonated water alone, are omitted.

The dispensing valve 10 includes an upper member 14 which may be formedfrom any suitable material, such as plastic, metal, etc. A center member16 and a lower member 18 are similarly formed and cooperate with themember 14 to form a unitary valve body. A pair of gaskets 20 and 22extend through the valve body between the upper member 14 and the centermember 16, and between the center member 16 and the lower member 18,respectively. The gaskets 20 and 22 are preferably formed from rubber,and include beads 24 which cooperate with channels formed in the matingsurfaces of the members 14, 16 and 18 to seal the various sections ofthe valve body.

A restricted carbonated water passageway 26 is formed in the valve 10and includes an inlet portion 28 and an outlet portion 30. The inletportion 28 of the restricted passageway 26 extends from a carbonatedwater inlet fitting 32 to a diaphragm valve 34 of a carbonated watercontroller 35 and the outlet portion 30 extends from the valve 34 to adownspout 36. The downspout 36 in turn extends to a nozzle 40, includinga water outlet passageway 42. The valve 34 is normally closed, and isselectively actuated to permit the flow of carbonated water from thecarbonated water inlet fitting 32 through the valve and out the nozzle40.

More particularly, the carbonated water controller 35 includes a valvingchamber 44 that extends through the center member 16 to a valvingaperture 46. A carbonated water inlet chamber 48 is formed in the lowermember 18 and extends to the valving aperture 46. A valving member 50 isnormally positioned in sealing engagement with the valving aperture 46by a plurality of resilient ribs 52. Preferably, both the valving member50 and the ribs 52 are formed integrally with the gasket 22.

The carbonated water controller 35 further includes a rod 54 positionedin the valving chamber 44. The rod 54 is supported in a cup 56 formedintegrally with a gasket 20, and extends through the valving aperture 46into a cup formed in the valving member 50. A pushbutton 58 is slidablysupported in the upper member 14 and extends into engagement with aportion of the gasket 20 positioned opposite the rod 54. Thus, upondepression of the pushbutton 58, the rod 54 is moved downwardly and thevalving member 50 is moved out of engagement of the valving aperture 46.This permits the flow of carbonated water from the carbonated waterinlet fitting 32 through the inlet portion 28 of the passageway 26,through the downspout 36, and out the nozzle 40.

A syrup passageway 66 is also formed through the valve 10, and includesan inlet portion 68 and an outlet portion 70. The inlet portion 68extends from a syrup inlet fitting 72 through an adjustment valve 70 toa diaphragm valve 74 of a syrup controller 75, and the outlet portion 70extends from the valve 74 toa discharge aperture 76 located in thenozzle 40. The valve 74 is normally closed and is opened in response toback pressure created upon the flow of carbonated water through therestricted passageway 26 to permit the flow of syrup from the syrupinlet fitting through the valve 74 and out the nozzle 40.

More particularly, the syrup controller 75 includes a valving chamber 84formed in the center member 16 and extending to a valving aperture 86. Asyrup inlet chamber 88 is formed in the lower member 18 and extends tothe valving chamber 86. A valving member 90 is normally positioned insealing engagement with the aperture 86 and is connected to the gasket22 by a plurality of resilient ribs 92. Preferably, both valving member90 and the ribs 92 are formed integrally with the gasket 22.

The controller 75 further includes a rod 94 mounted in the valvingchamber 84. The rod 94 is mounted in a cup 96 comprising a portion ofthe gasket 20 and extends through the valving aperture 86 into a cupformed in the valving member 90. A valving passageway 98 extends throughthe center member 16, the gasket 20 and through the upper member 14 froma point in communication with the valving chamber 44 of the carbonatedwater valve 34 to a gasket 20 positioned opposite the rod 94. It will benoted that the outlet portion 30 from the passageway 26 includes arestriction at the outlet of the valve 34. Thus, whenever the pushbutton58 is actuated to permit the flow of carbonated water into the valvingchamber 44, back pressure is generated in the chamber 44. This backpressure operates through the valving passageway 98 to move the rod 94downwardly. The rod 94 moves the valving member 90 out of engagementwith the valve seat at the aperture 86. Thereupon, syrup flows from thesyrup inlet fitting 72, past valve 73, through the passageway 66 to thesyrup inlet chamber 88, around the ribs 92, through the valving aperture86, through the valving chamber 84, through the passageway 70 and outthe nozzle 40 through the aperture 76. It will be noted that because thegasket 20 forms a seal between the upper portion of the valving chamber84 and the valving passageway 98, carbonated water from the valvingchamber 44 does not commingle with syrup in the valving chamber 84.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the overall layout of the dispensingvalve is shown. The dispensing valve 10 includes five syrup valves74a-74e each corresponding to a different flavored syrup. Fivecarbonated water valves 34a34e correspond to the syrup valves 74a-74erespectively, and are connected to their respective syrup valves throughfive valving passageways 98a-98e. The dispensing valve 10 furtherincludes a carbonated water valve 34' and a non-carbonated water valve34". The valves 34 and 34" are constructed similarly to the valve 34shown in FIG. 1, but do not actuate syrup valves, and are therefore notprovided with valving passageways.

Five difierent flavored syrups are directed through the dispensing valve10 by five syrup passageways 66a-66. The syrup passageways 66a-66einclude inlet portions 68a-68e, respectively, which extend to the syrupvalves 74a-74e. The syrup passageways 66a-66e further include outletportions 78a-78e, respectively, which extend from the syrup valve74a-74e to a plurality of individual discharge apertures 761-76e. Theapertures 76a-76e are positioned in a circle around the downspout 36.

As is best shown in FIG. 2, carbonated water is directed to thecarbonated water valves 34a-34e through a common carbonated water inletpassageway which extends to five carbonated water passageways 26a-26eand a carbonated water passageway 26'. The carbonated water passageways26a-26 and the carbonated water passageway 26' include inlet portions28a-28e and 28' and outlet portions 30a30e and 30', respectively. Theoutlet portions 30a30e and 30' are connected to the downspout 36 througha pair of common carbonated water outlet passageways 102. Finally, anon-carbonated water inlet passageway 104 extends to the non-carbonatedwater valve '34", and a non-carbonated water outlet passageway 106extends from the valve 34" to the downspout 36.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, it will be seen that the upper member 14and the lower member 18 of the dispensing valve 10 receives the centermember 16 and gaskets 20 and 22 and are shaped to provide a valve thatis readily adapted to one-handed manipulation. Similarly, the variouspushbuttons 58 of the dispensing valve are positioned for index fingeractuation during one-handed manipulation of the valve. By this means,beverages are easily discharged directly from the nozzle 40 directlyinto a glass or cup.

As is best shown in FIG. 5, various flavored syrups, carbonated waterand non-carbonated water are delivered to the dispensing valve 10 in aplurality of separate tubes 108 all of which are enclosed in a conduit110. The conduit 110 terminates in a flange 112 which is received incooperating grooves 114 formed in the upper and lower members 14 and 18to secure the conduit 110 to the dispensing valve 10. Similarly, thefittings 32 and 72 are provided with flanges 116 that are engaged withlips 118 formed in the upper and lower member 14 and 18 to secure thetubes 108 to the dispensing valve 10.

In use, the dispensing valve 10 is mounted at any convenient location,and the various tubes 108 are connected to sources of flavored syrup,carbonated water, and non-carbonated water. Thereafter, whenever one ofthe pushbuttons 58 corresponding to one of the carbonated water valves34a-34e is depressed, a selected flavored syrup-carbonated water mixtureis dispensed from the nozzle 40. Similarly, when the pushbuttonscorresponding to the valves 34" and 34' are depressed, carbonated waterand non-carbonated water are dispensed, respectively. it will beunderstood that the dispensing valve 10 is not limited as to the numberof syrup valves, and can be provided with a greater or a lesser numberof syrup valves, if desired. It will be further understood that thedesign of the dispensing valve 10 can be modified to provide actuationof selected syrup valves 74 upon the flow of non-carbonated waterthrough the corresponding water valves 34. Also, the dispensing valvecan be arranged to provide actuation of selected syrup valves 74 uponactuation of either of two valves 34, one of which dispenses carbonatedwater and the other of which dispenses non-carbonated water.

Those skilled in the art will immediately realize that the valve 10 canbe employed to dispense liquids other than flavored syrup-carbonatedwater mixtures. For example, pre-mixed beverages can be dispensed fromthe valve, in which case the dual valving feature illustrated in FIG. 1may be unnecessary. Another very important use of the valveis in thedispensing of alcoholic beverages. It will be appreciated that thearrangement shown in FIG. 1 is readily adapted liquor-mixer mixtures,i.e., Scotch and soda. In the latter case it may be desirable to directthe liquor through a flow meter, whereby the exact quantity of liquordispensed may be accurately noted.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that the present inventioncomprises a dispensing valve includ ing a plurality of syrup valves, aplurality of water valves each corresponding to one of the syrup valves,and structure for actuating the syrup valves in response to flow throughthe corresponding water valves. In accordance with the preferredembodiment of the invention, he dispensing valve comprises a housingincluding a first member having valving chambers formed in it, a secondmember having an inlet chamber formed in it, and a gasket positionedbetween the members and including valving members that normally preventflow between the inlet chambers and the valving chambers. Valveactuators mounted in valving chambers permit flow between the inletchambers and the valving chambers upon movement relative to the housing.The valve actuators of the syrup valves are operated by fluid pressurein the valving chambers of the water valves.

Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustratedin the drawing and described herein, it will be understood that theinvention is not limited to the embodiment disclosed, but is capable ofrearrangement, modification and substitution of parts and elementswithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing valve comprising:

a valve body comprising upper, center, and lower members and having aplurality of syrup passageways and a plurality of corresponding waterpassageways extending through it along the intersections of the members,

gaskets positioned between the members for sealing the passageways onefrom another;

a plurality of normally closed syrup valves each for controlling theflow of syrup through one of the syrup passageways;

a plurality of normally closed water valves each from controlling theflow of water through the water passageway corresponding to one of thesyrup passageways, and

means responsive to the opening of the water valves for opening thecorresponding syrup valves.

2. The dispensing valve according to claim 1 wherein one of the gasketsincludes the portions of the syrup valves and the water valves thatnormally prevent flow through the syrup and water passageways.

3. The dispensing valve according to claim 2 wherein the syrup valvesand the water valves each include a rod mounted between the gasket formovement relative to the valve body to permit flow through itsrespective passageway.

4. The dispensing valve according to claim 3 wherein the syrup valveopening means comprises means responsive .to the flow of water throughthe water valves for moving the rods of the corresponding syrup valverelative'to the valve body and thereby opening the corresponding syrupvalves.

5. The dispensing valve according to claim 4 wherein the waterpassageways extend through the valve body from a common water inlet to acommon water outlet, wherein the syrup passageways extend through thevalve body from separate syrup inlets to separate syrup outlets, andwherein the common water outlet and the separate syrup outlets arecontained within a common nozzle.

6. A dispensing valve comprising:

a valve body having a pair of valving chambers formed in it which extendto valving apertures, and having a pair of inlet chambers formed in itwhich extend to the valving apertures;

a single gasket means mounted in the valve body for normally sealingboth of the valving apertures;

a pair of valve actuators mounted in the valving chambers for openingthe valving apertures and thereby permitting flow between the inletchambers and the valving chambers of the valve body, and

means responsive to back pressure generated by flow through one of thevalving chambers for operating the valve actuator corresponding to theother valving chamber.

7. The dispensing valve according to claim 6 wherein the gasket meansincludes valving members normally positioned in sealing engagement withthe valving apertures of the valve body, and wherein the valve actuatorsdisengage the valving members from the valving apertures.

8. The dispensing valve according to claim 7 wherein the valve bodycomprises a first member having the valving chambers formed in it and asecond member having the inlet chambers formed in it, and wherein thegasket means comprises a gasket positioned between the first and secondmembers of the valve body.

9. The dispensing valve according to claim 8 wherein the valve actuatorscomprise rods mounted in the valving chambers for movement through thevalving apertures to disengage the valving members therefrom.

10. The dispensing valve according to claim 9 wherein the valve actuatoroperating means comprises means for applying fluid pressure from one ofthe valving chambers against the rod in the other valving chamber.

11. The dispensing valve according to claim 10 further including asecond gasket mounted in the valve body for sealing the ends of thevalving chambers remote from the valving apertures, wherein the rodsextend between the gaskets, and wherein the pressure applying meanscomprises a passageway formed through the valve body from a point in oneof the valving chambers to a point on the side of the second gasketopposite the rod in the other valving chamber.

12. A dispensing valve comprising:

a valve body including a center member having a pair of valving cavitiesformed in it that extend to valving apertures, and outer memberspositioned on opposite sides of the center member;

gasket means mounted in the valve body between the center member and theouter members for normally sealing the valving cavities and the valvingapertures thereof;

a pair of valve actuators mounted in the valving cavities for movementrelative to the valve body to open the valving apertures;

means mounted in the valve body for moving one of the valve actuatorsrelative to the valve body and thereby opening one of the valvingapertures, and

means responsive to the opening of said one of the valving apertures formoving the other valve actuator relative to the valve body and therebyopening the other of the valving apertures.

13. The dispensing valve according to claim 12 wherein the gasket meanscomprises gaskets positioned on opposite sides of the center member ofthe valve body, and'wherein one of the gaskets includes portions thatnormally seal the valving apertures.

14. The dispensing valve according to claim 13 wherein the valveactuators comprise rods extending between the gaskets.

15. The dispensing valve according to claim 14 wherein the means formoving the other valve actuator comprises a passageway formed throughthe valve body from a point in communication with the valving cavitycorresponding to the said valve actuator to a point in communicationwith the side of the other of the gaskets opposite said other of thevalve actuators.

mg? UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 6F CORRECTION Patent No.3,703,187 Dated November 21 i 1972 Inventor(s) Jack J Booth V It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 1; line 8, "along" should be --alone'-;

line 23, "an" should be 'and. Col. 2, line 9, "along" should be alone. ICol. 3, line 3-3, before "gasket" insert point in communication with adiaphragm portion of the-:

Col. 1,- line 3,""66a-66" should be --66a-6 6e--';

. line 8, "76l-76e" should be --76a76e-;

line 18,- "2621-26" should. be 26a26e-. Col. 5-, line 28, "he" sh'ouldbe --the..

Signed and sealed thislSth day of May 1973;

(SEAL) Attest;

EDWARD M.FLET CHER,JR; ROBERT GOT'I'SCHALK Attesting Officer ICommissioner of Patents

1. A dispensing valve comprising: a valve body comprising upper, center, and lower members and having a plurality of syrup passageways and a plurality of corresponding water passageways extending through it along the intersections of the members, gaskets positioned between the members for sealing the passageways one from another; a plurality of normally closed syrup valves each for controlling the flow of syrup through one of the syrup passageways; a plurality of normally closed water valves each from controlling the flow of water through the water passageway corresponding to one of the syrup passageways, and means responsive to the opening of the water valves for opening the corresponding syrup valves.
 1. A dispensing valve comprising: a valve body comprising upper, center, and lower members and having a plurality of syrup passageways and a plurality of corresponding water passageways extending through it along the intersections of the members, gaskets positioned between the members for sealing the passageways one from another; a plurality of normally closed syrup valves each for controlling the flow of syrup through one of the syrup passageways; a plurality of normally closed water valves each from controlling the flow of water through the water passageway corresponding to one of the syrup passageways, and means responsive to the opening of the water valves for opening the corresponding syrup valves.
 2. The dispensing valve according to claim 1 wherein one of the gaskets includes the portions of the syrup valves and the water valves that normally prevent flow through the syrup and water passageways.
 3. The dispensing valve according to claim 2 wherein the syrup valves and the water valves each include a rod mounted between the gasket for movement relative to the valve body to permit flow through its respective passageway.
 4. The dispensing valve according to claim 3 wherein the syrup valve opening means comprises means responsive to the flow of water through the water valves for moving the rods of the corresponding syrup valve relative to the valve body and thereby opening the corresponding syrup valves.
 5. The dispensing valve according to claim 4 wherein the water passageways extend through the valve body from a common water inlet to a common water outlet, wherein the syrup passageways extend through the valve body from separate syrup inlets to separate syrup outlets, and wherein the common water outlet and the separate syrup outlets are contained within a common nozzle.
 6. A dispensing valve comprising: a valve body having a pair of valving chambers formed in it which extend to valving apertures, and having a pair of inlet chambers formed in it which extend to the valving apertures; a single gasket means mounted in the valve body for normally sealing both of the valving apertures; a pair of valve actuators mounted in the valving chambers for opening the valving apertures and thereby permitting flow between the inlet chambers and the valving chambers of the valve body, and means responsive to back pressure generated by flow through one of the valving chambers for operating the valve actuator corresponding to the other valving chamber.
 7. The dispensing valve according to claim 6 wherein the gasket means includes valving members normally positioned in sealing engagement with the valving apertures of the valve body, and wherein the valve actuators disengage the valving members from the valving apertures.
 8. The dispensing valve according to claim 7 wherein the valve body comprises a first member having the valving chambers formed in it and a second member having the inlet chambers formed in it, and wherein the gasket means comprises a gasket positioned between the first and second members of the valve body.
 9. The dispensing valve according to claim 8 wherein the valve actuators comprise rods mounted in the valving chambers for movement through the valving apertures to diSengage the valving members therefrom.
 10. The dispensing valve according to claim 9 wherein the valve actuator operating means comprises means for applying fluid pressure from one of the valving chambers against the rod in the other valving chamber.
 11. The dispensing valve according to claim 10 further including a second gasket mounted in the valve body for sealing the ends of the valving chambers remote from the valving apertures, wherein the rods extend between the gaskets, and wherein the pressure applying means comprises a passageway formed through the valve body from a point in one of the valving chambers to a point on the side of the second gasket opposite the rod in the other valving chamber.
 12. A dispensing valve comprising: a valve body including a center member having a pair of valving cavities formed in it that extend to valving apertures, and outer members positioned on opposite sides of the center member; gasket means mounted in the valve body between the center member and the outer members for normally sealing the valving cavities and the valving apertures thereof; a pair of valve actuators mounted in the valving cavities for movement relative to the valve body to open the valving apertures; means mounted in the valve body for moving one of the valve actuators relative to the valve body and thereby opening one of the valving apertures, and means responsive to the opening of said one of the valving apertures for moving the other valve actuator relative to the valve body and thereby opening the other of the valving apertures.
 13. The dispensing valve according to claim 12 wherein the gasket means comprises gaskets positioned on opposite sides of the center member of the valve body, and wherein one of the gaskets includes portions that normally seal the valving apertures.
 14. The dispensing valve according to claim 13 wherein the valve actuators comprise rods extending between the gaskets. 